Kenya has put in place security measures
to pave the way for flights from Mogadishu to land in Nairobi, the
Ministry of Transport has said.
Transport secretary
James Macharia said yesterday that Nairobi was ready for the resumption
of direct flights from the Somalia capital, ending an eleven-year ban in
line with a directive from President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“Direct
flights from Mogadishu to Nairobi are scheduled to start tomorrow
(today) as we have put in place adequate security measures to ensure the
safety of our country,” said Mr Macharia.
The Kenya
Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) said that it had lifted the Notice to
Airmen (NOTAM) requiring aircraft coming from Mogadishu to come via
Wajir.
“We have lifted Notam for direct flights between
the two cities starting tomorrow even as we continue to assess the
situation and put appropriate measure in place for direct flights,” said
KCAA director general Gilbert Kibe.
Kenya in 2006
introduced a stopover in Wajir for all flights coming to Nairobi from
Mogadishu. However, President Kenyatta last week said that the Wajir
stopover would be removed within two weeks.
“I have
directed security teams from both countries to meet immediately and
agree on modalities of re-launching direct flights between Nairobi and
Mogadishu within two weeks,” said Mr Kenyatta.
Mr Kenyatta was speaking following a meeting with his counterpart, Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi “Farmajo”, in Nairobi.
Kenya
has long argued that the stopover in Wajir acts as a buffer against
security threats posed by the Al- Shabaab terror group in Somalia.
The
challenge facing authorities implementing the directive was the need to
balance security and convenience. Mr Macharia said additional security
measures had already been introduced in Mogadishu.
The
reintroduction of direct flights from Mogadishu to Nairobi is expected
to reduce the inconveniences faced by travellers between the two
countries.
While direct flights from the Jomo Kenyatta
International Airport (JKIA) to Mogadishu take about one hour and 20
minutes, the return leg takes nearly two- and- half hours, with the
screening stretching it by an hour. Passengers stand to benefit the most
due if the delays are cut. Although Kenya does not import as much as
it exports to Somalia, cargo handlers and non-governmental organisations
also expect benefits from the reintroduction of direct flights.
“It
is good news for the aid and relief sector as it allows for easy
movement of people and cargo in the NGO sector as it gives shorter cargo
transit times,” said Siginon Group commercial manager, Jack Mwaura.
Kenya
in 2015 exported Sh15 billion worth of goods to Somalia mostly
perishable products such as meat and horticulture. On the other hand,
Somalia’s exports to Kenya were not significant enough to be registered
in the 2016 Economic Survey.
The reintroduction of
direct flights would also serve to better diplomatic relations between
the two countries. Somalia has been pushing for the direct flights in
vain. Last month, Mogadishu claimed that Kenya had promised to allow
direct flights by December 13, 2016. “Somalia and Kenya had an
agreement to ease these restrictions because both airports in Nairobi
and Mogadishu can handle security checks before anyone can board,” an
official said last month
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